Deposits are not just about the money.

Requiring a deposit communicates a client’s mental and fiscal commitment. It also showcases your professionalism and confidence in your work.

You hold the operational controls of the client relationship. Deposits set a tone of professionalism and confidence and help to ensure a mutually respectful and beneficial business partnership. If the client reacts adversely in response to your deposit requirement, then it's up to your insight to recognize this behavior as a red flag and an indication to proceed with caution.

You can start a deposit invoice from anywhere you would create a standard invoice. Begin from your homebase focus tab by clicking invoice or accounting and click the blue + and select deposit.

After you enter the deposit amount, you will be taken to the newly created deposit invoice. View and edit the deposit description, payment instructions, and payment terms. You can add notes or attachments as needed.

Send your deposit via Hectic email or download a PDF to send it your own way. The Hectic email is fully editable.

If you have not integrated electronic payments, you can record a payment when you receive it in the top right corner by clicking the three dots and choosing "Record a payment."

After a deposit has been paid, you will be able to credit the amount back to your client (if you choose) on a future invoice. The next time you create an invoice, you will see an option to "Apply deposit credit."

You can opt to apply the full deposit or whatever amount you have previous agreed to with your client.

A note on deposits:

Contrary to the popular opinion of most freelancers, it is industry best practice -- and thus expected -- for a freelancer to require a deposit before starting work. Hectic™ allows you to configure whether or not a deposit is required, and whether that deposit will be a fixed amount or a percentage.